--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came here from Jamaica as a kid and…" description: "\"I came here from Jamaica as a kid and didn't go to school, really, never had a great education. I was a little bit bad on the street, running around, d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/dillian-whyte-12348_boxing_i-came-here-from-jamaica-as-a-kid-and-di_247990.jpg" --- # I came here from Jamaica as a kid and didn't go to school… ![“I came here from Jamaica as a kid and didn't go to school, really, never had a great education. I was a little bit bad on the street, running around, doing this, doing that, and always getting into trouble. I was completely written off, so boxing has definitely saved my life.” quote by Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/dillian-whyte-12348_boxing_i-came-here-from-jamaica-as-a-kid-and-di_247990.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/dillian-whyte-12348_boxing_i-came-here-from-jamaica-as-a-kid-and-di_247990.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/dillian-whyte-12348_boxing_i-came-here-from-jamaica-as-a-kid-and-di_247990.jpg) > “I came here from Jamaica as a kid and didn't go to school, really, never had a great education. I was a little bit bad on the street, running around, doing this, doing that, and always getting into trouble. I was completely written off, so boxing has definitely saved my life.” [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Boxing offered structure, discipline, and purpose, redirecting a troubled youth toward a constructive path and personal redemption. **In simple terms:** Boxing saved a troubled life. Key Takeaway Find discipline through sport or focused activity. Themes redemption discipline personal growth Mood hopeful inspirational Type advice biographical When to use this quote - youth programs - rehabilitation centers - community gyms - mentorship - career transitions Key Concepts psychology social mobility Questions to Reflect On - What alternative paths can provide similar structure? - How can communities support at‑risk youth? A Different Perspective Not everyone has access to such opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Great education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-education/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [Boxing has definitely allowed me to focus on something other than just creating content which I think we've seen historically can be so toxic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-paul/boxing-has-definitely-allowed-me-to-focus-on-something-other-than/) [Logan Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-paul/) > [Boxing definitely has a part to play in taking away unwanted aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/boxing-definitely-has-a-part-to-play-in-taking-away-unwanted/) [Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/) > [One of my really cool memories is when Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five came to Jamaica. Daddy was the opening act. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedella-marley/one-of-my-really-cool-memories-is-when-michael-jackson-and-the/) [Cedella Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedella-marley/) > [My father, Donald, came from Jamaica to study economics. My mother, Shyamala, came from India to study the science of fighting disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/my-father-donald-came-from-jamaica-to-study-economics-my-mother/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [You know, it brings in a lot of different people; you take people off the street, and kids, and people from all different walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-lamy/you-know-it-brings-in-a-lot-of-different-people-you-take-people-off/) [Michele Lamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-lamy/) > [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [I wanted to be the best street fighter in Houston, Texas. And I thought if I got a trophy or two, I'd go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/i-wanted-to-be-the-best-street-fighter-in-houston-texas-and-i-thought/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [To be able to be caught up into the world of thought-that is educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/to-be-able-to-be-caught-up-into-the-world-of-thought-that-is-educated/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [There are really only two ways to teach. You can inspire the student to voluntarily and enthusiastically choose to do the hard work necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/there-are-really-only-two-ways-to-teach-you-can-inspire-the-student/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [If we can take action to ensure Pennsylvanians receive a great education, from Pre-K through an apprenticeship program all the way to college, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/if-we-can-take-action-to-ensure-pennsylvanians-receive-a-great/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [I was never told that the purpose of school was to get a job at the end of it. What was pushed on me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/i-was-never-told-that-the-purpose-of-school-was-to-get-a-job-at-the/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [As a retired educator I have seen first-hand the impact a great education can have on a young person's life. I will always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-adams/as-a-retired-educator-i-have-seen-first-hand-the-impact-a-great/) [Alma Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-adams/) > [That should be the goal, is that every kid in every neighborhood, despite whatever challenges they may face, are getting a great education in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/that-should-be-the-goal-is-that-every-kid-in-every-neighborhood/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [But I will say that TV was a great education for me. It allowed me to develop techniques for getting the job done. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/but-i-will-say-that-tv-was-a-great-education-for-me-it-allowed-me-to/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [You can't have a sustainable US economy without a great education system. Teach students to do the job right. You don't have an innovative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/you-can-t-have-a-sustainable-us-economy-without-a-great-education/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) ## More by Dillian Whyte > [I'm 30. I'm about to hit my prime now. I need to act and keep building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-30-i-m-about-to-hit-my-prime-now-i-need-to-act-and-keep-building/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [Throw me in deep enough, and I sink or swim. I don't care who I fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/throw-me-in-deep-enough-and-i-sink-or-swim-i-don-t-care-who-i-fight/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [I love to fight, and I'm looking forward to being back in the ring, getting the victory, and moving on to challenge for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-love-to-fight-and-i-m-looking-forward-to-being-back-in-the-ring/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [I don't look too far ahead. I focus on the next fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-don-t-look-too-far-ahead-i-focus-on-the-next-fight/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [I want a kid to look at me and say, 'You know what, this man had no chance in life, but he stayed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-want-a-kid-to-look-at-me-and-say-you-know-what-this-man-had-no/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [Every sport has dangers, and it's a risk we all take, but that's why people need to give us the credit we deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/every-sport-has-dangers-and-it-s-a-risk-we-all-take-but-that-s-why/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [People say they start from the bottom. If you want to see someone who's started from the bottom, go and look at my career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/people-say-they-start-from-the-bottom-if-you-want-to-see-someone-who/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [There's always something getting in the way - other fights being made or money and politics ruining things - but after I finish Chisora,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/there-s-always-something-getting-in-the-way-other-fights-being-made/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [After that defeat by Joshua in 2015, I changed my trainer and teamed up with Mark Tibbs. I began working at Loughborough University.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/after-that-defeat-by-joshua-in-2015-i-changed-my-trainer-and-teamed/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [People will get to see I'm real and a straight guy. And they'll realise I can fight as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/people-will-get-to-see-i-m-real-and-a-straight-guy-and-they-ll/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [I've been written off. But I don't go about crying. Nothing is going to stop me. Not Chisora. We're marching on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-ve-been-written-off-but-i-don-t-go-about-crying-nothing-is-going-to/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [I'm still hungry. I'm still striving... You have to understand: my mum has worked hard to look after her children, but we have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-still-hungry-i-m-still-striving-you-have-to-understand-my-mum-has/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [The government should have something in place where, in school, they see what sport you are most suited for, and it should be mandatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/the-government-should-have-something-in-place-where-in-school-they/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [Listen: I'm a fighter. I'm a brawler. I'm a boxer. But I'm a technician as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/listen-i-m-a-fighter-i-m-a-brawler-i-m-a-boxer-but-i-m-a-technician/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [I definitely want to fight Breazeale. It doesn't need to be PBC; it can be Matchroom and Sky Sports. If he wants to fight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-definitely-want-to-fight-breazeale-it-doesn-t-need-to-be-pbc-it-can/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) [Explore all 55 Dillian Whyte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) ## More Boxing quotes > [You know, it brings in a lot of different people; you take people off the street, and kids, and people from all different walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-lamy/you-know-it-brings-in-a-lot-of-different-people-you-take-people-off/) [Michele Lamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-lamy/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [Apart from my grandad, none of my family had really been into boxing so the sport was never discussed much at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-taylor/apart-from-my-grandad-none-of-my-family-had-really-been-into-boxing/) [Josh Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-taylor/) > [You don't think. It's all instinct. If you stop to think, you're gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-robinson/you-don-t-think-it-s-all-instinct-if-you-stop-to-think-you-re-gone/) [Sugar Ray Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-robinson/) > [I actually like boxing away from home. It takes the pressure off you a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/i-actually-like-boxing-away-from-home-it-takes-the-pressure-off-you-a/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [Whether it's Marcos Maidana, Shawn Porter, Amir Khan or Kell Brook, there are a lot of fights out there that I think would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/whether-it-s-marcos-maidana-shawn-porter-amir-khan-or-kell-brook/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [I'm a fighter, I love boxing, it's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/i-m-a-fighter-i-love-boxing-it-s-what-i-do/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [I first got into boxing when I was quite young. I was about 12 when I won my first boxing match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-parker/i-first-got-into-boxing-when-i-was-quite-young-i-was-about-12-when-i/) [Joseph Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-parker/) > [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-too-fast-i-m-too-smart-i-m-too-pretty/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I somewhere along the way became fascinated with exploring characters who are willing to put themselves into violent situations, whether it's football, hockey, boxing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-berg/i-somewhere-along-the-way-became-fascinated-with-exploring-characters/) [Peter Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-berg/) > [I liked wrestling a lot better than boxing. I remember thinking at that time that wrestling was a pure demonstration of strength, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-carpenter/i-liked-wrestling-a-lot-better-than-boxing-i-remember-thinking-at/) [Scott Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-carpenter/) > [I always tried to be different from everyone else. Then I found out about boxing. That was the way I could be different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-always-tried-to-be-different-from-everyone-else-then-i-found-out/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [One day we'll have championship boxing in Cleveland and people will support it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-porter/one-day-we-ll-have-championship-boxing-in-cleveland-and-people-will/) [Shawn Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-porter/) > [I've grown up with Bollywood, and I continue to enjoy it. But boxing remains my passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijender-singh/i-ve-grown-up-with-bollywood-and-i-continue-to-enjoy-it-but-boxing/) [Vijender Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijender-singh/) [Browse all 2,214 Boxing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I came here from Jamaica as a kid and didn't go to school, really, never had a great education. I was a little bit bad on the street, running around, doing this, doing that, and always getting into trouble. 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